Trump says Aug. 1 tariff deadline stands but open to proposals

US President Donald Trump said the Aug. 1 deadline for imposing new tariffs remains in place but indicated he is open to an extension if countries submit alternative proposals.

Asked whether the deadline was firm, Trump said, “I would say firm, but not 100% firm. If they call up and they say we'd like to do something a different way, we're going to be open to that."

On Monday, Trump began notifying trade partners—from major suppliers like Japan and South Korea to smaller nations—that sharply higher US tariffs will take effect on Aug. 1, marking a new phase in the trade war he launched earlier this year.